Published on: 2026-09-08
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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On September 8, Russia observes the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Siege of Leningrad. On this day in 1941, the blockade ring closed around the city. For 872 days, the residents of Leningrad lived through hunger, cold, bombings, and shelling, continuing to work and fight.
Among those who remained in the besieged city were the teachers, staff, and students of the Leningrad Engineering and Construction Institute, the predecessor of SPbGASU.
During the siege years, LISY specialists carried out work necessary to preserve the city. Architects and engineers inspected damaged buildings, determined the possibility of their further use, and developed solutions for strengthening and restoring structures. Staff and graduates of the institute participated in the camouflage of industrial, military, and civilian sites and in the protection of architectural monuments of Leningrad.
Despite the extremely harsh conditions, the institute continued its work. In January 1942, diploma project defenses took place at LISI. The group of staff members remaining in the city ensured the preservation of the institute’s buildings, equipment, archives, and library.
More than 220 students, teachers, and staff of LISI died on the fronts, from starvation in blockaded Leningrad, or during evacuation. Today, their names are preserved in the Memory Book of SPbGASU.
On September 8, we remember all those who lived, worked, and defended Leningrad during the siege. The memory of their feat remains a part of the history of Saint Petersburg and our university.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.